What is 'oyo'?

[Harlan]

I have heard a term new to me...'oyo'...in relation to bunkai.

Can someone please define it for me...and what is the difference between it and 'regular' bunkai?

Thank you.

[Prince Loeffler]

I have heard a term new to me...'oyo'...in relation to bunkai.

Can someone please define it for me...and what is the difference between it and 'regular' bunkai?

Thank you.

In my personal knowledge, Oyo Bunkai is literall translation of "personal" intepretation of the Kata. Another word that might suit its meaning is "Secondary " Layers of interpretations of the kihon within the kata. I could be wrong but thanks for the refresher inquiery, now you got me thinking..

[Nyuck3X]

Bunkai is the word for the analyzing of application and Oyo is the
application of techniques.

The layers you are describing Prince are called okuden waza.
(According to Kane & Wilder's book "the way of kata").

Peace

[Sheree Adams]

Hi there,

I can give you what understanding I have from my teacher in Okinawa and how we use these terms.

Bunkai is the basic application of the techniques in the kata. They are set and are done without changing the form of the techniques within the kata. One of the uses of bunkai is to keep the proper form of a kata. Without pictures, videos, and DVDs, (like we have now) it was used to keep the form from straying. If you think a technique could be this, could be that, could be a million different things, then, over time, your kata starts to take on the form of X, Y, and Z. So, form and bunkai are complementary and are used to things from straying.

Oyo, on the other hand, is your personal, creative, ideas of how to implement a variety of techniques within a kata. To give an example, the technique may start out the same, but then go on, or end abruptly, depending on your personal ideas.

That's how we use the terms bunkai and oyo. Bunkai simple, with it's purpose, oyo, creative. Kind of like ippon kumite vs. jiyu kumite.

And, this is where, according to my teacher, people have a huge misunderstanding. You do bunkai and they think it's simple and obvious. Well, in most cases it is, but just imagine if you had no way to preserve the kata over 300 years, how would you do that? I've seen people who do oyo and call it bunkai and the kata begins to change over time.

So, this is one way you can differentiate the two. Both are important.

Hope that helps.

Sheree

[Prince Loeffler]

Bunkai is the word for the analyzing of application and Oyo is the
application of techniques.

The layers you are describing Prince are called okuden waza.
(According to Kane & Wilder's book "the way of kata").

Peace

Thanks for the info Ray, I'll appreciate it a lot.

[Mitch Saret]

Well, I was going to respond much in the way Sheree did, as my understanding is essentially the same. But she was so eloquent I'll let her post stand as is!

[Harlan]

Thank you for the replies.

[Gary Wado]

In Wado Ryu in the UK we have four main types of Kumite:

Ippone Kumite - One Step Fighting
Ohyu Kumte - Semi Free Fighting
Kiyon Kumite - Basic Fighting
Ji-yu Kumite - Free Fighting

We say that Ohyu Kumite is the "Transition" between one step sparing and free fighting, as the moves are less regimented and are more free flowing.

Gary

www.wado-kai-karate.co.uk

[Ed_morris]

bunkai is the application, oyo is the analysis ... and I've recently read 'oyo bunkai' is the variations of the applications (via analysis).

source: http://www.iogkf.it/nakamuramod.htm

[Nyuck3X]

Sorry Ed,

I have to disagree. The example you posted does not define the terms.

Here is my source from Mr. Patrick McCarthy's web site:

http://www.koryu-uchinadi.org/KU_HAPV.pdf

On the bottom of page 2 under "Reverse Engineering" he describes
bunkai-jutsu as analyzing and oyo-waza as application practices.

I trust Mr. McCarthy's definition because he is an English speaker first,
Fluent in Japanese and is married to a Japanese national to whom he can
varify his conclusions.

Peace.

[Nyuck3X]

Oyo, on the other hand, is your personal, creative, ideas of how to implement a variety of techniques within a kata. To give an example, the technique may start out the same, but then go on, or end abruptly, depending on your personal ideas.

This is what Kane and Wilder describe as henka waza in their book "The Way of Kata".

Peace.

[Mekugi]

応用　Ôｙô
Application

分解　Bunkai
Analysis; dissection or to take apart.

[Nyuck3X]

Mr. Ebert,

I noticed that you also posted the characters for the words. Can you
define each one so we can get a better understanding of what we are
discussing? It would be much appreciated.

Thank-you.

Best regards,

[Andrew S]

分解する Bunkai suru (verb) to break down; to disect; to take apart.
応用する Oyo suru (verb) to apply; to put to practical use.

This is what Kane and Wilder describe as henka waza in their book "The Way of Kata".

I've also come across the term 応用変化技　oyo henka waza which would be "variations of practical applications"　or "applied variations of technique".

Does this help?

[Nyuck3X]

Does this help?

Mr. Smallacombe,

Thank-you for the excellent definitions. Yes, it helps very much.
Oyo henka waza does make a lot more sense.

Peace